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Check out our Ciaran Clark photo gallery

Central character

Okay, so we still don't know whether Ron Vlaar will be back, but even if he is, Concrete's mantle as Villa's defensive main man has now been usurped by Clark.

The Ireland international was the claret and blues' best and most consistent defender last season, a year in which he really came of age.

Strictly speaking Philippe Senderos is the senior man at the back in terms of age, but it's doubtful the creaking Swiss international will complete another Premier League season, let alone at Villa.

At 25, Clark is older than Nathan Baker, 24, and Jores Okore, 22.

He is also more experienced having made 137 appearances (123 starts, 14 subs) compared to Baker's 87 (80 starts, seven subs) and Okore's 32 (29 starts, three subs) for Villa.

Ciaran Clark - 6.4

The boy done good

Clark is flying the flag for the academy.

Villa fans - like all clubs' supporters - love one of their own and Clark is an adopted Brummie having joined the club at the age of 11.

He has spoken glowingly about the return of his former youth team mentor Kevin MacDonald to Bodymoor Heath in the capacity of assistant manager.

But now that Andi Weimann has followed the likes of Barry Bannan, Marc Albrighton, Nathan Delfouneso and co out of the club, then Clark is one of few survivors from the 2009-10 Premier Reserve League title triumph under MacDonald. He was the captain of that side and two years earlier skippered the U18s to the Premier Academy League title.

Yes, Baker is still around, Gary Gardner is hoping this will be his year, and Jack Grealish is the latest talent to roll off the production line, but Clark remains the nearest Villa have had to a homegrown first team regular since Gabby Agbonlahor burst through. His continued presence in the team - thanks to his hard work and improvement - offers hope to those coming through.

Ciaran Clark on his Premier League debut for Aston Villa against Fulham

Villa can't afford another Bosman

To get Clark tied down to a longer deal is prudent - and possibly a little overdue. Villa already face the prospect of losing one central defender, Vlaar, for nothing on a Bosman, to risk losing another next summer would be careless in the extreme.

Rivals have already started sniffing around and fierce foes West Bromwich Albion are understood to be among those monitoring the situation. But Clark is hopefully approaching his Premier League peak, and having put the groundwork in, the claret and blues should be the ones who reap the rewards.

Silenced his critics

Clark has not always been a fans' favourite in B6.

Since being handed a surprise first team debut by Martin O'Neill in a 2-0 Premier League victory over Fulham at Villa Park in August 2009, Clark's journey from raw rookie to reliable regular has been fraught with challenges.

Having been tried occasionally at left-back and in midfield by Gerard Houllier and Alex McLeish it was in Paul Lambert's first season 2012-13 that Clark became a more permanent fixture in central defence. That campaign just happened to be one in which Villa conceded a club worst tally of 69 Premier League goals and Clark had to take responsibility for his share of them.

To put that challenging season behind him and emerge stronger for it is testament to his character and determination. Rather than buckle under the criticism he has used it to motivate him. He can lay claim to being Villa's most improved player during the trials and tribulations of the past four seasons.

Born again battler

As alluded to above, Clark certainly likes a challenge - and that was evident with his more combative style of play last season. During his formative first team years a criticism of the Harrow-born centre-back was that he lacked the aggression usually associated with defenders.

Possibly because he is softly-spoken, possibly because of his butter-wouldn't melt looks or possibly because of his polite demeanour away from the football field.

However, he seems to have added extra steel to his game. He was sent off in the 1-0 defeat at Leicester City in January after leaping to team-mate Jores Okore's defence and squaring up to culprit Matty James and while red cards are not to be condoned it does show a change in Clark.

It's not just his team-mates he looks after, he can look after himself too - and his harder edge was epitomised by a bone-shaking, 'no more Mr Nice Guy' tackle on Jeffrey Schlupp during Villa's February FA Cup victory over the Foxes. Those kind of moments can galvanise the team and the crowd and but for Fabian Delph's emergence as captain, Clark would be a leading candidate to wear the armband.